Claims that AL wants to destroy all opposition in its path
Leaders of Jamaat-e-Islam are confident that the BNP would not break up ties with them, saying it would make the BNP highly unpopular in the long run.
Several leaders of the party told the Dhaka Tribune that they were confident the BNP would face political obstacles if it disowned the Jamaat – a key ally of the 18-party alliance. The BNP has maintained an alliance with Jamaat for more than a decade, calling the Islamist party a “strategic partner.”
Jamaat leaders pointed out that the two parties were working together at the root-level and had already formed anti-government committees. They also said at present the BNP is not in a position to dissolve their partnership; rather, they are very much in need of Jamaat if they want to win politically.
Wishing to remain anonymous, one of Jamaat’s working committee members told the Dhaka Tribune: “In the last two years, every opposition political programme was a success because of Jamaat- Shibir’s participation.”
“In fact, we rarely saw enough BNP activists joining 18-party’s processions, demonstrations and rallies,” he added.
He said the government was trying to hamper the unity between the BNP and the Jamaat “because they want to eliminate a strong opposition.”
A Shibir central working committee leader said, “We know much better than BNP and Chhatra Dal about politics, and we know how to resist government oppression.”
Jamaat Working Committee member Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said: “The government wants to divide our alliance so that it can rule the country as long as it wants.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that her government would hold talks with the BNP if the party severed ties with the Jamaat. In response, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia spoke at several media interviews claiming that the BNP would cut ties with Jamaat “at the right time.”
Pointing to PM’s suggestion one of Jamaat’s central leaders Rezaul Karim said it was a matter of BNP and Jamaat, not that of the government.
Since the alliance began its street movement last year, Jamaat activists have allegedly perpetrated a great amount of violence across the country.
After national election on January 5, Jamaat-Shibir was accused of attacking Hindu community members in several areas.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on January 17, urging the BNP to distance itself from the Jamaat.
The EU Parliament stressed that “parties which turn to terrorist acts should be banned.”
On January 20, for the first time since the emergence of the BNP-led 18-party alliance, the BNP held a public rally alone yesterday in Dhaka, apparently keeping its distance from the Jamaat.
However, Jamaat leaders told the Dhaka Tribune their men had participated in the rally, but without the usual banners and festoons demanding the release of their leaders who were convicted for war crimes. This was part of their “strategy,” they said, but refused to disclose any further details.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
